Not Marble, Nor Gilded Monuments by William Shakespeare
Not Marble, Nor Gilded Monuments by William Shakespeare : Critical Appriciation
Introduction :
Shakespeare Sonnet entitled “Not Marble, Nor Gilded Monuments” is addressed to his friend – W.H. He praises the immortality and everlasting nature of poetry in this sonnet. He says that No wars can destroy his poetry.
While London has seen many wars and has been burnt twice but. the great poetry of Shakespeare has lived on. The Idea of the immortality of poetry is beautifully presented by the poet.
Summary of the sonnet (Subject Matter) :
The central idea of this sonnet is the immortality of poetic composition. The Poet says that everything in this world will destroy in course of time.
Nothing in the world is immortal. Neither the building of white marble nor the golden statues and monuments of Princess are everlasting. All these things will be destroyed or ruined by the cruel hands of the time.
Not marble nor the gilded monuments
Of princes shall outlive this powerful rime,
Word meaning and Explanation :
- Gilded : Golden – सोने से मढ़ा हुआ
- Monuments : Statues – स्मारक
- Rime : Poem – कविता
Poet says that Every object of the world will lose its beauty and die but the name of his friend will shine more bright in his poetry. He will survive forever in this Universe.
In course of time precious monuments of Princes will become dirty and they will be ruined with dirty time.
But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone besmeared with sluttish time.
Again, Poet Says that All things will meet their end at the time of War. Wars are wasteful. The buildings of Marble and Statues are destroyed by war. Soldiers destroy statues and other work of stone or Art when they fight in Wars.
When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Word meaning and Explanation :
- Besmeared with : Covered with – ढकना
- Sluttish : Dirty – गंदा
- Broils : quarrel – झगडे
- Masonry : Stone Work – पत्थर का काम
But this powerful verse of poet is immortal. Through this verse the poet’s friend will live forever. All the buildings and monuments will be destroyed by wars but the memory of the poet’s friend will survive in his immortal verses. It will neither be destroyed by sword nor by fire.
Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn
The living record of your memory.
The poet says again that death will not end his friend’s memory. He assures his friend that his memory will conquer (win) oblivion that destroys (wars) against memory of all men. People will not be able to forget him because he will live in the immortal verses of poet.
’Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth;
Word meaning and Explanation :
- Oblivious : not aware of what is happening – बेखबर
- Forth : ahead – आगे
- ’Gainst : against – विरुद्ध
The poet says that the memory of his friend will live in the eyes of the admirers or lover of the poet’s verses. His memory will live till the day of judgement and the world lasts.
your praise shall still find room
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom.
So, till the Judgement that yourself arise,
You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.
Word meaning and Explanation :
- Posterity : A Plant called atropa mandragora – भावी पीढ़ी
- Doom : death, destruction, or some other terrible fate – कयामत
- Judgement : come to sensible decision – निर्णय
- dwell : live in – रहना
Theme or Central idea of the sonnet :
William Shakespear’s sonnet “Not Marble, Nor Gilded Monuments” is one of those sonnets which is about immortality of verse and the immortality of a person about whose love shakespeare sings in his sonnet.
Everything in this world vanishes in course of time either through wars and destruction caused by men or through the natural process of decay.
The poet’s verses and the persons of whom the poet sings in his verse remain forever and thus, become immortal. He believes that his own poetic powers will keep his friend’s memory alive till the day of judgement.
Memorable Lines :
The poem has a few memorable lines like :
’Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth;
Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn
The living record of your memory.
So, till the Judgement that yourself arise,
You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.
The Great idea of immortality or sense of immortality :
Shakespeare says that his poetry will live as long as the world lasts and civilisation exists. He has faith in his own poetic genius.
Shakespeare believes that good poetry is immortal. He is confident of the immortality of his friend. His friend will be remembered in his sonnet. This poem has a great sense of immortality.
Structure and Rhyme Scheme :
This Poem is of 14 lines written by Shakespeare. its rhyme scheme is ABAB, CDCD, EFEF and GG.
Shakespeare in 3 Quatrains presents development of thoughts of immortality while in couplet. He presents conclusion saying that his friend will live in the eyes of all posterity and will be remembered till the day of judgement.
Conclusion :
In conclusion, it may be said that the poet has successfully established the greatness and permanence of poetry. He
believes that his own poetic powers will keep his friend’s memory alive till the day of judgement.
The poet is a true prophet as is proved by the fact that London was destroyed twice by fire, but his poetry remainded and his friend’s memory too.
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